Nagaland chamber demands release of trader abducted in Dimapur

The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) has condemned the abduction of a Dimapur businessman and demanded his immediate and safe release, Nagaland Post reported on Saturday.

According to the chamber, businessman Altaf Hussain was abducted by unidentified persons from New Market, Dimapur, on Wednesday, October 28. Police have not issued a public statement on the case, and it is not known whether any demand has been made or whether anyone has been detained.

What the chamber said

In a statement issued through its media affairs wing, CNCCI said CCTV footage reportedly showed the abduction happening in broad daylight in the busy lanes of New Market. It asked how such an incident could take place without anyone stepping in, and urged the authorities to identify and arrest those responsible and keep the public informed about the investigation.

The chamber also condemned what it described as the alleged involvement of a Naga political group, without naming it. "Abduction and extortion cannot be considered acts of Naga nationalism," CNCCI said, adding that the sacrifices of the Naga national movement should not be used to justify crimes against citizens, especially traders. It urged the group to focus on an Indo-Naga political solution instead.

The allegation of a group's involvement is CNCCI's and has not been confirmed by police.

Appeal to traders and the public

CNCCI said disputes and grievances must be settled through legal and institutional channels, and that abduction, intimidation and extortion could not be justified under any circumstances. No individual or organisation was above the law, it said.

The chamber appealed to the New Market Business Owners' Association, the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), community leaders and residents to share any information that could help investigators. It said businesses could not function in an atmosphere of fear, and called for the trader's unconditional return.

Business groups in Dimapur, Nagaland's commercial hub, have repeatedly raised concerns about extortion and illegal "taxation" by armed groups. NEInsider will update this story when police share details.